The basics: 15, 30, 40 and game
A padel match has three levels: points make a game, games make a set, and sets make the match. Inside a game you count like in tennis:
| Points won | What you call |
|---|---|
| 0 | Love |
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 30 |
| 3 | 40 |
| 4 | Game (if the opponents did not reach 40) |
The serving pair's score is always called first, so "30–15" means the servers have won two points and the receivers one.
Deuce and advantage
When the score reaches 40–40 it is deuce. Under the classic rule you need two points in a row: the first gives advantage, the second wins the game. If the other pair wins the point after an advantage, it is back to deuce, again and again.
Padel uses three different deuce rules today, so agree on one before you start:
- Classic advantage: play until someone wins two points in a row.
- Golden point: one point decides.
- Star point: a middle ground, FIP's official rule for the 2026 season.
Golden point
At 40–40 there is no advantage. A single point, the golden point, decides the game, and the receiving pair chooses which side to receive from. It keeps matches short and puts real pressure on every deuce, which is why it is so common in leagues and social games.
Star point
The rule FIP introduced for the 2026 season. At 40–40 you play normal advantage, but not forever: after two unresolved advantage rounds, when the game returns to deuce for the third time, a single point decides it. You keep the drama of advantage without ten-minute games.
Example: 40–40, advantage servers, deuce, advantage receivers, deuce. The next point is the star point, and whoever wins it takes the game.
Sets and the match
- You win a set by reaching 6 games with a lead of at least two (6–4, 6–3).
- At 5–5 you play on: 7–5 wins the set.
- At 6–6 you play a tiebreak, and the winner takes the set 7–6.
- A standard match is best of three sets. Social games are often a single set.
Tiebreak and match tiebreak
In a tiebreak you simply count 1, 2, 3 instead of 15, 30, 40. You win by reaching 7 points with a two-point lead (7–5, 8–6, 12–10).
- Serving in a tiebreak: the player whose turn it is serves one point, from the right. From then on each player serves two points in a row in serve order, starting from the left.
- Changing ends: every 6 points in a tiebreak.
- Match tiebreak (super tiebreak): instead of a third set, one tiebreak to 10 points with a two-point lead. Common in leagues and amateur tournaments.
Who serves, from which side, and when to change ends
- Which side: every game starts with a serve from the right. After each point you switch: with an even number of points played in the game you serve from the right, with an odd number from the left. The serve always goes diagonally into the box opposite you.
- Who serves: the serve passes between the pairs every game. Within each pair the players alternate, so all four serve in a fixed order: a player from pair A, a player from pair B, A's partner, B's partner.
- Changing ends: after the first, third, fifth game and so on (every odd game). In a tiebreak, every 6 points.
- The serve itself: in padel you serve underhand, below waist height, after one bounce, and it must land in the diagonal service box.
Rather not count in your head?
Nekuda keeps all of this on your watch: one player taps half the screen and every player sees the same score live, including deuce, advantage, golden point, star point, tiebreaks, who serves and from which side. Free for Apple Watch and Wear OS.